Coyote Ground Scent Question

[MobileArcher93]

I had a new occurrence this morning and it made me wonder. Hopefully y'all's experience might shed some light.

I had three coyotes come in behind me. One massive. Biggest coyote I've ever seen. They circled back not allowing for a clear shot. I was just happy they did not proceed deeper into the bedding area I'm hunting. About an hour later a 2 yr old buck cruised the same trail nose on the ground and didn't flinch or show any kind of concern. Another hour goes by and 4 does come from the opposite way of the coyotes and stop like they hit a brick wall where the coyotes had been standing. They hung there for ~10 mins blew once softly and bounded back into bedding cover.

Do y'all think it is common for deer to put much caution toward coyote scent? I haven't ever seen them that sensitive to it, however, there is always more to learn! Happy hunting

 

[backyardtndeer]

Have had deer come down the same trail coyotes came down within less than an hour apart. Have killed coyotes and had does get close enough they could see the dead coyote, and they stopped and blew and changed trails but continued the same direction.

Another thing to consider, did they pick up the bucks scent. Have seen does, that are not quite ready, being harassed by bucks blow.

 

[catman529]

You sure it wasn't your scent? Either way I have seen deer get all skittish over a dead coyote one time. It was my first coyote I ever shot and I spined it at 10 yards with a bow. The does came in later and were not happy at all about the coyote laying there. I finally spined a doe that was giving the coyote an intense stare down. The deer didn't spook and run off, but they were on pins and needles, half a step away from blowing out of there.

 

[megalomaniac]

I've killed a pile of coyotes from the stand. Just a generalization, seems about 1 out of 4 deer goes completely nuts and runs off. 3 out of 4 go on alert, but don't spook. Lately more deer are spooking off coyote scent it seems.

It's probably more location specific. In places where coyotes don't predate deer, the two can coexist peacefully. In other places where coyotes are a major threat to deer, the deer don't want to be in the same neighborhood as them.

 

[catman529]

I've killed a pile of coyotes from the stand. Just a generalization, seems about 1 out of 4 deer goes completely nuts and runs off. 3 out of 4 go on alert, but don't spook. Lately more deer are spooking off coyote scent it seems.

It's probably more location specific. In places where coyotes don't predate deer, the two can coexist peacefully. In other places where coyotes are a major threat to deer, the deer don't want to be in the same neighborhood as them.

That makes perfect sense. Some coyotes get a taste for certain critters, I've seen it happen with turkeys around the place where I live several years back. Coyotes are smart critters that can have different personalities and don't usually target bigger animals like deer and turkey, but sometimes they can and will. Most of their diet is small rodents and fruit. They love persimmons.

 

[Union Co. Boy]

I've seen some ignore it, some alert to it, and some run away like scalded dogs. Always wondered if the runners had been chased or had some type of really bad personal experience with a coyote.

 

[THE DUKE]

Have witnessed many situations I'd say with bucks on there feet with rut approaching he didn't care at the moment.